by R W Caron
“Help!” Came the call from the square and Andrew’s eyes shot up. One of his men lay wounded in the square. Tuck attempted to Grab Andrew but he shot out of the doorway towards the man like mother to a wounded child. Andrew rushed towards the man sliding on his knees to the man who had an arrow sticking out of his thigh. Andrew wrapped the man’s arm over his shoulder and started back towards the door.
An Archer loaded his bow on the rooftop. One last archer who had not fled from the giant winged beast took aim at Andrew.
Andrew turned his head and seen the archer, but had no where to go. The shot seemed to slow as it came at Andrews face. He breathed in excepting his most curtain death when suddenly another arrow slammed into the head of the first arrow shattering both and only hitting Andrew with the splinters. The shadow flew over head again and the archer fell with not one but two arrows protruding from his throat. Andrew glanced up as the beast banked back and landed in the square. Alina climbed off the back of her mount and smiled.
“Now we are even.” She said with a smile. Tuck and the rest of the men tentatively excited the cover and took the man from Andrew. As soon as the man was free from Andrew grasped he embraced Alina. His arms wrapping around her waist and lifting her off the ground. She hugged him back holding arrows in one hand and her bow in the other he arms wrapped around his head and he squeezed he so tight.
“I should have come for you, I should have believed that he lived, I should have trusted you?” Andrew stammered.
“I wish I could have told you.” She replied. “but,”
“I know.” Andrew replied as Tears grew in his eyes. “I’m just so glad you are safe.”
“Where is Nahan?” Everyone went silent and tried to avoid the question.
“He went to face the Kings body guard.” Andrew replied.
“The one they call the Hunter?” She asked with worry in her voice.
“Yes.” She turned at the word to head towards where Nahan had gone but Andrew caught her arm. “Alina please.” He pleaded. “Nahan asked me to keep you safe.”
“My lady come with us we could use your bow.” Tuck stated.
“Nahan needs me.” She replied.
“Nahan can take care of himself.” Tuck replied. “Saw it with my own eyes, if anyone can beat this so-called hunter it is your man.”
“He is right Alina.” Andrew pleaded. “And we could use the help.”
Alina looked over her shoulder at them and nodded knowing full well she may be more of a distraction than help with Nahan was to stay focused and defeat the Hunter. He had spoken of his disgrace, or how he had let the hunter get the better of him. Spoke of how the hunter’s speed was unmatchable and how he felt it was his destiny to one day face him again. Knowing that Nahan had been trained by Magmus and the other wizards of the north she could only hope that would be enough. She turned and walked with Andrew taking one final glace at the path towards the grand hall. Trinity took flight and would search for prey until called. Nahan had told Alina to stay on Trinity, but this was something she needed to do. She was needed.
∆∆∆
King Erwin stood in his throne room staring at the doors waiting for them to burst open any minute. He was defeated this he knew. His hunter had abandoned him, his men were dying and for the first time in a long time King Erwin felt the pain of loss. The pain he felt right now reminded him of when he slid the dagger into to his brother back. For the life of him though he could not remember how he over came the pain he could Only remember bits and pieces of what had happened but the pain was real.
He paced back and forth but the only thing he could see in that memory was Shatina. He knew that the boy he let live, the boy he thought would never betray him had come at last to avenge his father’s death. Erwin was no slouch with the sword but Andrew and the men he brought with him seemed trained better then he had been. He would not go down without a fight that was for sure, but he had sent his last lines of defense to find the hunter and since they had not returned it was only him in the throne room pacing. The sound of battle continued and he could hear it getting closer to the doors. Erwin took a breath and turned to face the door fully.
Something caught his attention at the right of the room and he turned his gaze to see his Mistress standing there. “Shatina, what are you doing?” He asked. “You must leave, they will kill you.”
“Ssseems you are not the man I thought you were.” She hissed, slithering from the shadows in her true form. The sheer shock on the kings face brought a long cackling laugh from her. “Do you think for one second, someone as beautiful as I could love something a pathetic as you?”
“What are you?” He asked.
“I am Aslian a race your kind tried to destroy. Now, it is you who will suffer.” She hissed.
“STAY AW...” His words where cut short as Shatina’s tail and bottom half o her body wrapped around him crushing his legs. Another coil wrapped him and then a third. She squeeze harder with every wrap and Erwin’s face started to turn purple.
“Suffer as I have had to suffer since you were a boy.” He hissed at him. “I shall squeeze you, and then eat you.”
Erwin opened his mouth to speak but she grabbed his face and unhinged her jaw. Her tongue lashed out at Erwin, tasting his warm face. Shatina then screamed out in pain as an arrow shot straight through the flesh of her elongated mouth drawing a crude looking smile as she closed her mouth and turned to see who had fired the arrow. He eyes light up as Alina launched a second arrow at her. Shatina batted that one away and turned to face the attackers.
“Not so tough without your bow, are you?” Alina asked coyly.
“A pity my Hunter is sliding his blade across your loves throat.” Shatina said calmly. The hesitation was all she needed as he dropped Erwin and launched her tail at Alina catching her in the chest and sending her flying through one of the many colored glass windows. Andrew stepped forward but Shatina payed him no mind as he still looked confuses. Instead she swayed back and forth staring t the woman behind Andrew. “Those eyes, I have seen them before.”
“We have never met creature, for surely I would have killed you.” Carmae said spinning her staff.
“Your name is Carmae.” Shatina said still swaying.
“How do you know my name?” Carmae demanded.
Shatina smiled though it was hard to tell from the arrow wound. “It twas the last thing your sister screamed.”
“You know my sister.”
“I wonder if you will taste as good as she did.” Shatina said more to herself then to Carmae.
“My sister escaped this place.” Carmae yelled defiantly.
“Yes she did, only because I let her go.” Shatina replied. “I let her go, then hunted her down. She put up a bit of a fight, but once my lovely coils squeezed the life from her, she tasted oh so succulent. He last words were pleading for your sister who never came.”
“You lie.” Carmae shouted. Shatina narrowed her eyes and reached her hand between her breasts pulling out a silver pendant of a baby bear. She tossed it in front of Carmae and laughed.
“That was stuck in my throat for days.” Shatina chuckled. Carmae stared at the pendant. A similar pendant that she wore around he neck slid out from between her breast and the one on the floor shot up and connected with the bay bear hugging the standing adult bear. This was a spell Carmae had put on the pendants that when they finally joined they would be a family again. Carmae lowered her head and screamed with rage. Lightning erupted and filled the room. Tuck Andrew and the rest of the men dove for cover as Carmae spun her staff and slammed it into the ground.
“Get out of here with the king.” Carmae said. “This Slithering bitch is mine.”
“Carmae no.” Andrew pleaded.
“GO NOW!” She Ordered. “Check on the Nipawan Girl.”
Tuck grabbed Andrew and pulled him out of the room but did not have a chance to grab two of his men as they rushed forward at Shatina. Shatina lashed out with his fangs taking the throat
from the one man. He powerfull coil crushed the second again the wall before Tuck could stop them. Carmae send a bolt of lightning at Shatina who dodges it easily and rushed in at Carmae. He coils attempting to wrap around Carmae.
Carmae had other plans as she thrusted her hands forward and spun her staff sending several smaller lightning bolts at Shatina. This drove the monster back but Carmae continued to advance mumbling to herself “Yarthilla, Goddess of the sea guide my hand and stay my tears, Tenzot god of Lightning give me strength and power to drive this demon to the world in which it belongs.” She continued repeating this as she danced with her staff. Any who was watching the display would have been mesmerized but the display as the staff twisted and turned with bolts flying from it attacking the serpent light creature who continued to attack but be foiled at every turn circling the light wielding.
Shatina continued to circle Carmae with each hit of lightning keeping her from getting to close but also allowing her to slowly close in the trap. The minor pain from the bolts was nothing for such a powerful and meaningful meal to her. Her opening came within seconds and she launched her body At Carmae before she could deflect the attack. She wrapped her human arms around her and then her coils followed like a snake attacking a mouse. Shatina stared into Carmae’s eyes as a smile crept across her face.
Shatina realized her mistake to late as Carmae whispered “this is for my sister.” Carmae’s staff suddenly exploded in a flash and a crack that sent everything in the throne room flying against the wall. Shatina flew to the side, smoldering and laid limp on the ground. Carmae dropped to the ground, her staff destroy. She slowly touched her chest wondering how she had survived. A smile erupted on her face as she felt the burn mark where her pendant had been. It was destroyed but her heart had survived the bolts because of it. Only then did she realize she was badly burned from the assault.
Tuck rushed into the room and she smiled at him. “No more snake.” She laughed.
“Your legs are crushed.” Tuck said surveying her. “but fixable.” He replied with and easy smile. “Lets get you out of here.” Normally Carmae would not have let him carry her but tuck didn’t give her the choice he picked her up in his arms and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Why did you come back for me?” She asked.
“Seemed like the mercenary thing to do.” Tuck said with a smile. “I don’t leave people behind.”
Carmae leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.” She said then her voice turned firm for just a second. “You tell anyone about the kiss and I’m kill you.”
“What kiss?” Tuck said with a coy smile and a wink. He walked out of the room with her in him arms to rejoin his crew.
Chapter 20
The Hunter and the Prey
Nahan’s feet make little to no noise on the marble floor of the grand all. His senses took over as he listened to intently. The scurrying of a mouse along the far right wall, the soft echo of the battle waging outside, the sudden drowned out sound of thunder followed by the rhythm of the rain hitting the glass windows. The soft creak of a bow being drawn saved his life as the arrow launched at back. He turned and slashed his sword blocking the arrow and glaring up at the man that had launched his. The guard fumbled at he grabbed a second arrow.
Nahan was about to start toward the man when the guards back arched pushing his chest forward as a hand clasped over his throat from the darkness. He then fell over the railing of the second floor and landed with a heavy thud on the ground. Nahan hesitantly walked towards the man with a dagger sticking out of his back. Nahan knew the dagger before he examined it but why would the Hunter kill his own men.
Nahan pulled the dagger from the mans back and rolled it effortlessly in his hand. “I shall give this back to him.” Nahan said aloud to himself. “Straight through his heart” Nahan mused. He slid the dagger into his belt and headed for the staircase to the second level. He could feel the Hunters presence but could not see the man as he graced the second lever of the grand hall. Archers bodies littered the floor and it would seem the hunter had taken them all. Nahan was cautious as he walked to where the Guard had fallen from, insuring he made as little noise as possible as he went.
The hunter was smart Nahan knew he would not stay in the same place for long but why kill men that would aid him nahan wondered. As Nahan continued towards a wooden door that let to a sky walk he narrowly escaped the attack from above, raising his blade just intime to block the Hunters sword that was aimed for the back of Nahan’s neck.
The Hunter dropped from his hiding spot and launched several attack combinations at Nahan. Nahan danced through the motions and defended them all. The Hunter lunged at Nahan with both his swords, a very brash move. Nahan’s blade already low from the last assault crossed and blocked the blade driving them up leaving him open. The hunter did not miss it chance driving his skull into Nahan’s nose shattering it. Nahan staggered back as the taste of copper filled his mouth and the sensation of the warm sticky blood ran from his nose.
Nahan blinked away the tears that had instantly came as the hunter stepped back and smirked. “SO you live.” The hunter said. “Not for long but you live.”
“That I do.” Nahan said with a smile. “And I intend to for many years.”
Nahan took up the assault now lurching forward with both his blade. Nahan slashed back and forth and upped the intensity of his assault. Much like their last battle the hunter matched Nahan with every assault. Nahan knew that he could not keep up this pace forever but also knew that Hunter would slaughter his friends should he be allowed to live. That rage fueled his muscled, fueled that pounding heart and was a force the Hunter could not know.
The dance continued back and forth for several moments before Nahan seen his opportunity. Every time the hunter blocked low he left himself open for a slip second. Nahan was playing what he would do in his head as he put the motions into play.
The sudden impact to the chest of the Hunter drop the wind from the man but the sheer force of the kick, this sends him slamming into the wooden door and out into the rain. He rolled over his shoulder and was back on his feet gasping for air as Nahan rushed out at him. The hunter barely blocked the assault as the two continued back and forth.
The rain intensified as did the intensity of the two duels. Every time Nahan slowed the Hunter pushed the pace every time the hunter slowed Nahan pushed the pace back. Nahan swung both his swords at the hunter trying a drop slash but the Hunter slide on his knees under the attack swiping at Nahan’s leg but catching nothing but air as Nahan flipped forward away from the man. The two turned to face each other as guards appeared on either side of the walk way with spears in hand.
The hunter smiled evilly at Nahan trying to catch his breath. “Tis between you and I is it not?” The hunter asked.
“I believed so,” Nahan replied trying to catch his breath. “But it would seem you brought friends.”
“Let us welcome ‘my’ friends than.” The hunter said rushing at Nahan. Nahan raised his blade but the hunter flipped over the man and launched himself at the guards behind Nahan. Nahan looked at the other guard advancing into the rain baffled by the hunter’s action but knowing that he needed to dispatch these men. He deflected one spear to the right and spun kicking the guard in the rump and sending him flying off the wall. The second spear shot at Nahan. Nahan rolled his shoulder out of the way grasping the sear under his arm and driving broth blades into the guard’s stomach. He Yanked his blades free and look the head clean off the third and final guard.
Nahan had no time to rest as the Hunters blade covered in the blood of the guardsmen drove down at him. Nahan blocked the first assault but the Hunter blade dug deep into his side, His armor took the brunt of the attack but the blade sliced through and kissed Nahan’s flesh driving a deep line. Nahan did not give up so quickly slapping his blade up at the Hunter sliding his face and taking his eye.